📌 How to Read This Table
State-mandated: Required by state law regardless of loan type or transaction type. | Loan-required: Required by FHA, VA, or USDA guidelines but no state law mandates it. | No mandate: No state or federal law requires testing, but lender or appraiser may still require it. Click any state for the full guide.
| State | Requirement Level | Trigger | Minimum Panel | Who Pays | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | State-mandated | All sales with private well (PWTA) | Full PWTA panel (bacteria, nitrates, VOCs, metals, pesticides) | Seller | 1 year |
| Wisconsin | State-mandated | All sales with drilled well | Coliform bacteria + nitrates | Negotiated | 90 days |
| Oregon | State-mandated | Transfer of property with drilled well | Nitrates + coliform for Type I wells | Seller | Within 90 days of close |
| Virginia | State-mandated (new wells) | New well construction; recommended at all sales | Comprehensive panel for new wells (VDH) | Varies | 1 year (new wells) |
| Michigan | County-level requirements | Many counties require at point of sale; check local ordinance | Varies by county: typically bacteria + nitrates | Varies | Varies by county |
| Pennsylvania | Loan-required | No state mandate; required for FHA/VA/USDA | Bacteria + nitrates minimum for loans | Negotiated | Per loan type |
| North Carolina | County-level/loan | Varies; some counties require; all FHA/VA/USDA require | Bacteria + nitrates for loans; varies by county | Negotiated | Per loan type |
| Ohio | Loan-required | No state mandate; required for FHA/VA/USDA | Bacteria + nitrates + any local contaminants | Negotiated | Per loan type |
| Indiana | Loan-required | No state mandate; required for FHA/VA/USDA | Bacteria + nitrates | Negotiated | Per loan type |
| Tennessee | Loan-required | No state mandate; required for FHA/VA/USDA | Bacteria + nitrates | Negotiated | Per loan type |
| Georgia | Loan-required | No state mandate; required for FHA/VA/USDA | Bacteria + nitrates + pH | Negotiated | Per loan type |
| Florida | No mandate | No state requirement; FHA/VA/USDA apply if loan-financed | Bacteria + nitrates for loans | Negotiated | Per loan type |
| Texas | No mandate | No state requirement; FHA/VA/USDA apply if loan-financed | Bacteria + nitrates for loans | Negotiated | Per loan type |
| Minnesota | Loan-required | No state mandate at sale; MN Dept of Health recommends annual | Coliform + nitrates for loans; coliform + nitrates + arsenic recommended | Negotiated | Per loan type |
| New York | No statewide mandate | Some county health depts require; FHA/VA/USDA apply | Varies by county; bacteria + nitrates for loans | Varies | Per loan/county |
| Connecticut | Lender-driven | No state mandate; most lenders require for conventional loans too | Full panel common (bacteria, metals, VOCs) | Typically seller | 6–12 months |
| Massachusetts | Loan-required | No state mandate; Title 5 covers septic but not wells; FHA/VA apply | Bacteria + nitrates + any DEP-listed contaminants | Negotiated | Per loan type |
| Maine | Loan-required | No state mandate; arsenic common in bedrock; FHA/VA/USDA apply | Bacteria + nitrates + arsenic recommended | Negotiated | Per loan type |
| Vermont | Loan-required | No state mandate; FHA/VA/USDA apply; WASTEWATER/Well Act affects new construction | Bacteria + nitrates | Negotiated | Per loan type |
| New Hampshire | Loan-required | No state mandate; radon and arsenic common; FHA/VA/USDA apply | Bacteria + nitrates + arsenic + radon recommended | Negotiated | Per loan type |
| West Virginia | No mandate | No state requirement; FHA/VA/USDA apply | Bacteria + nitrates for loans | Negotiated | Per loan type |
| Kentucky | No mandate | No state requirement; FHA/VA/USDA apply | Bacteria + nitrates for loans | Negotiated | Per loan type |
| Missouri | No mandate | No state requirement; FHA/VA/USDA apply | Bacteria + nitrates for loans | Negotiated | Per loan type |
| Arkansas | No mandate | No state requirement; FHA/VA/USDA apply | Bacteria + nitrates for loans | Negotiated | Per loan type |
| Iowa | No mandate | No state requirement; FHA/VA/USDA apply; nitrates elevated statewide | Bacteria + nitrates strongly recommended | Negotiated | Per loan type |
| Illinois | No mandate | No state requirement; FHA/VA/USDA apply | Bacteria + nitrates for loans | Negotiated | Per loan type |
⚠ This Table Is a Starting Point, Not a Final Answer
State requirements can change, and county-level rules often supersede state guidance. Always verify with your state’s health department or your real estate attorney before a transaction. The links in the State column go to our detailed per-state guides.
How Federal Loan Requirements Work in States Without a Mandate
In states like Texas, Florida, or Illinois that have no point-of-sale testing mandate, the federal loan programs still apply their own standards. This means:
- A cash buyer in Texas has no legal obligation to test well water before closing
- A buyer using an FHA loan in Texas does trigger testing requirements (if the well is within proximity to a septic system or other risk factor)
- A buyer using a VA loan in Texas always requires a water quality test
- A buyer using a USDA loan in rural Texas always requires a water quality test
The bottom line: even in states with no mandate, most financed transactions involving a private well will require a water test through the loan program’s requirements.
State-Specific Guides
New Jersey
The strictest state. The Private Well Testing Act (PWTA) requires a full panel at every sale—seller pays, results within 1 year of closing.
Wisconsin
State-mandated coliform and nitrate testing at all property sales with a drilled well. County rules may be stricter.
Michigan
No statewide mandate but many counties (Oakland, Washtenaw, Ingham) require testing at point of sale. Check your county first.
Pennsylvania
No state mandate but lenders almost universally require testing. PA DEP offers low-cost testing through county programs.
Texas
No state mandate. FHA/VA/USDA apply for financed purchases. Cash buyers have no requirement but are strongly advised to test, especially for nitrates in agricultural areas.
Virginia
New well construction requires a comprehensive VDH panel. Existing wells have no state mandate at sale but lenders typically require testing.